A Selection of Images from this Week

East Cliff Portland

The Small Tortoiseshell 

My first pitched Butterfly this year. 

Robin (Close up)

Dog Violet at Radipole Reserve

East Cliff Portland

This Grey Seal below was laid back in the water off Portland Bill enjoying the sunshine.

Practising flight shots at Radipole.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Looking towards Portland Bill Lighthouse

Ivy

Borage Flower

Chiffchaff

Robin

Great Tit

Chaffinch

Dog Violet

Nuthatch Home Completion

On the 25th February and 17th March I reported on the progress of the rebuild of a Nuthatch tree hole. Located high in a tree, this had the previous year been occupied by the Nuthatch and then subsequently this year made much larger by what I assume was a Woodpecker (Green or Great-spotted.

As you can observe from the latest images below taken on 23 March, the rebuild of exterior has now been completed. The construction materials consisted of dried mud, small twigs and dried leaves.

No doubt the pair are now using their interior design skills to finish the inside.

 

Flowers - Mothering Sunday

It is that time again.

Primroses and daffodils can be observed growing wild and in the gardens.

It is also Mothering Sunday today.

It is the Spring equinox on the 21st March. (two days time.)

Talking of things yellow. 

Yesterday I observed two male Brimstone butterflies on the wing. 

That is the first butterfly action I have seen this year. I was only able to get one flight shot though as they rarely pitch much during early season.

LTT Revisit

Another visit to the Long-tailed Tit nest building site revealed that construction is well underway. 

All of these images were taken from a good distance from the site using a long lens, so as not to disturb or distract the birds in anyway.

The site of the nest is in a safe location and unlikely to be disturbed by unwanted attention.

Long-tailed Tit nests are of a very intricate dome construction made of small twigs and lichen. 

From what I have observed in the past, this takes at least three weeks to construct.

The first clutch of eggs are laid from late March to early April.